Amusement ride



Oct. 1, 1968 A. SCHWARZKOPF 3,403,633

AMUSEMENT RIDE Filed Feb. 11, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l Anfon Schwarzkopf IN VEN TOR.

1968 A. SCHWARZKOPF 3 AMUSEMENT RIDE Filed Feb. 11, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Anion Schwarzkopf INVENTOR.

BY in: 6 .luubm 7 Oct. 1, 1968 A. SCHWARZKOPF 3,403,633

AMUSEMENT RIDE Filed Feb. 11, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Anfon Sch warzkopf I N V EN TOR.

Oct. 1, 1968 A. SCHWARZKOPF 3,403,633

AMUSEMENT RIDE Filed Feb. 11, l96 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Anfon Sch warzkop f I IN VEN TOR.

, 1968 A. SCHWARZKOPF Oct. 1

AMUSEMENT R IDE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 11, 1966 Fig. 7

F I g 8 Anfon Schwarzkopf INVENTOR 3,403,633 AMUSEMENT RIDE Anton Schwarzkopf, Munsterllausen, Germany Filed Feb. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 526,776 Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 12, 1965, Sch 36,523 Claims. (Cl. 10468) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A roundabout-type amusement ride having an endless track with steeply banked, sharply inclined curved portion formed by a pair of tubular rails and a vehicle structure whose length is less than that of the path and comprises a plurality of cars connected together by universal joints and driven by pinch-type rollers beneath the rails which frictionally engage a depending bore; the cars comprise springs running along the rails and seat portions (carrying the passengers) which can tilt about a longitudinal edge of the frame under the control of a motor-driven spindle or fluid-operated tilt mechanism.

The present invention relates to an amusement ride of the roundabout or scenic-railway type wherein the rider is conveyed around a closed path and, more particularly, to an amusement ride capable of substantially higher speeds and of greater structural integrity than has been possible heretofore.

Merry-go-rounds, carrousels and other roundabout amusement rides have generally been provided heretofore with a central drive structure in the form of a rotatable body to which horses, seats or the like were connected via rotating platforms or generally radial arms. For the most part, such roundabouts were of a restricted configuration because of the requirement for the central drive structure and, moreover, had a circumference traversed by the rider which, as it was increased, necessitated larger and longer arms, more massive platforms or the like so that even a minor increase in the size of the ride led to a prohibitive increase in its cost. Moreover, the platforms were generally horizontal and, although various means were provided on arms or the like for raising and lowering the seats of the ride, substantially the only variation in the nature of the ride itself was the speed and such speed variation was limited by the massiveness of the structure which was displaced. It was found, in practice, therefore, that merry-go-rounds and carrousels rapidly lost the public interest because of the inability of the operator to adapt them easily to create new thrills and sensations. It will be understood, moreover, that the most desired sensations involved in roundabout rides were those associated with rapid acceleration and deceleration and with high speeds capable of creating high centrifugal forces. Conventional merry-go-rounds and carrousel structures were incapable of producing such sensations to an adequate degree.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an amusement ride of the roundabout type which avoids the aforedescribed disadvantages and which is capable of high velocities and of modification to vary the sensations imparted to the rider.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rela tively inexpensive and simplified roundabout amusement ride which is capable of exposing the rider to rapid acceleration and deceleration and various sensations not possible heretofore with conventional carrousel and merry-goround systems but which, in the manner of such systems, carries the rider along a closed path and conveys the impression of a high-speed carrousel ride.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a 3,403,633 Patented Oct. 1, 1968 roundabout amusement ride which can be readily adjusted to alter its impression upon a rider with respect to speed changes, varying ascents and descents and inclination of the seat portion.

These objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter, are attained, in accordance with the present invention, by a track arrangement having fixedly positioned pairs of drive rollers spaced along the track whereby at least one pair of such rollers constantly entrains the vehicle means riding upon the track at a depending elongated board or plate thereof. It will thus be evident that the length of this depending member must be such that it bridges the successive pairs. Inasmuch as the system of the present invention avoids such central structures, the weight and cost of the entire system is reduced. Advantageously, the rollers engage the drive member of the vehicle means which is mounted upon the rails via wheel means embracing the rails from above and below and thereby preventing the jumping of the vehicle from the tracks. The wheel means can include rollers resting upon the rails from above and concave rollers engaging the rails from below and the rails themselves may be of tubular steel construction so as to be of relatively light weight and low cost. Furthermore, the drive rollers beneath the rails are provided with pneumatic tires which have the advantage that the introduction of the member between the rollers is accomplished in a shock-free manner, as is the transition between the several elements which constitute the drive member when the vehicle is constituted from a plurality of cars. The latter are coupled together by universal joints of the cruciform or ball type to permit the track to bank, rise and fall while means may be provided to raise or lower the seat portion of each car with respect to the chassis when it is desired to enter or leave the vehicle conveniently at a banked portion of the track. The cost of the system can be further reduced by the use of reinforcing strips to join the connecting plates of the rails together in a welded construction and the system can be formed from a plurality of rail sections connected at these plates. The rail structure further includes, according to this invention, pedestals or the like which, especially in the regions of steep banks and sharp curves, are provided with radial and longitudinal ties to prevent shifting or weakening of the arrangement. The wheel means are provided with synthetic-resin tires or crowns or are formed entirely of synthetic resin to reduce friction and noise.

The considerable advantages of this system, in terms of the ready adaptability of the systems to modifications of the speed, configuration and character of the ride will be readily apparent. It must also be noted, however, that the system of this invention can use relatively small, spaced-apart pedestals and does not, therefore, require a massive foundation, as is the case with conventional carrousels, nor is the entire system driven from a massive central hub; a number of small drive motors can be employed rather than a single motor and transmission.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view, in generally diagrammatic form, of a roundabout or scenic railway-type amusement ride having a steep slope over a portion of the path;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the amusement ride of FIG. 1, also in diagrammatic form;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the amusement ride from above showing the chassis of the vehicle means in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the amusement ride with part of the vehicle means broken away;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the vehicle showing the swingable arrangement of the seat portion thereof;

FIG. 6 is a side-elevational view, partly broken away, of a car of the vehicle means;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating another variant of the vehicle means; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. corresponding to this latter modification.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an overall view of the amusement ride of the scenic railway or roundabout type in which a closed path for a vehicle means surrounds a central zone 7. By contrast with conventional carrousel and merry-go-round devices, the central region 7 of the amusement ride of the present invention is free from any structures and the usual central post or axle, radial arms or platforms are dispensed with. Thus, according to this invention, the roundabout or scenic railway structure 1 of the present invention, which diifers from the conventional roller coaster using gravity displacement of the vehicle means, includes track means 2, 3 whose rails 2' and 2" are supported by pedestals 3a, 3b etc. spaced along the closed path (FIG. 2) defined by the rails. The rail means, which is generally designated 2, thus can rise and lower along the path (compare the rightand lefthand portion of FIG. 1) while extending in a round configuration whichmay be of a single curvature (generally circular) or with multiple curvatures (e.g. ellipsoidal).

The vehicle means 5, diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1 and shown in detail in FIGS. 3-8, is displaced along the track 2 by means of a multiplicity of fixedly positioned and spaced-apart pairs of rollers 6. The roller pairs are separated by an arc length equal at most to the length of a plate or board engageable by these rollers which are diagrammatically seen in FIG. 2. Thus, the number N of roller pairs will be at least equal to the circumference C of the path divided by the length L of this board or plate (N=C/L), taken to the nearest higher integer when a fraction results. As soon as the vehicle means 5 is released by one pair of rollers 6, another roller pair engages the generally flat member depending from the vehicle for further advance of the vehicle without difiiculty. The dimensioning is such that the successive pair of rollers seizes the vehicle prior to the release of the previous pair, the several roller pairs being operated substantially at identical speeds or being provided with override clutches to permit high-speed operation of the vehicle even along steep slopes and sharp curves. The pedestals 3a and 3b etc. can be interconnected radially and/or longitudinally via struts, not shown, to fix the pedestals with respect to one another in both the radial and azimuthal directions thereby preventing the centrifugal forces, acting upon the track, from deforming the ride. The pedestals, as is shown in FIG. 1 at 3b, can include legs 30, 3d and 3e interconnected by struts SI for transmitting both radial and tangential force to whatever foundation or base the pedestal may be supported upon. It has been found to be advantageous to provide along the track 2 and adjacent it a partition 4 which carries scenic and decorative material to provide the allusion, for example, of a bobsled run, a mountain slope, a mine tunnel or the like. The high partition can accommodate decorative matter designed to give the impression of an extraordinarily sharp curved steep descent, as is commonly experienced in a bobsled run.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the tubular rails 2' and 2" forming the rail means 2 are of cylindri cal configuration and are formed by steel pipes which are interconnected by traverses 14 constituting connecting members. The traverses 14 are provided with bores 15 adapted to connect the rails 2', 2" to the pedestals 3a, 3b etc. and serve to maintain the spacing between the rails and to support same. For this purpose, the connecting members 14 are formed of upwardly open U- shaped configuration with arms 14, 14" spreading outwardly in a divergent-arm V-configuration or parallel to one another in conventional parallel-arm U-configuration. At the ends of the arms 14', 14", upwardly turned portions 14a and 14a" receive the rails 2' and 2" and are welded thereto at 14b and 14b". The connecting members 14 thus define an opening 16a, between the bight 14a of the connecting member and the arms 14, 14" bounded by the edges 16', 16 of these arms, which is dimensioned to clear the depending drive plate member 10 of the vehicle means 5. The spaced-apart connecting members 14 are joined together by an annular reinforcing strip 13', 13 which is welded at 13a, 13a" to the rail 2', 2" along which it runs. Additionally, these stabilizing strips 13, 13" are welded to the connecting members 14 along the weldments 13b, 13b so as to preclude twisting of the connecting members 14 or their relative movement. It will be understood, of course, that the connecting members 14 lie generally in vertical planes regardless of the orientation of the respective portions of the track but are aifixed to the pedestals between the angle supports 3g (FIG. 1) when the mutually perpendicular arms 14, 14" are so disposed as to bring the rails 2 and 2 into a position in which they lie in a plane at an angle of 45 to the horizontal. The bores 15 serve to permit the track structure 2 to be positioned at any intermediate or greater angle. A further reinforcing strip 17, 17 is afiixed to each rail 2', 2" by a longitudinally extending weld 17a, 17a" and by the weldment 17b, 17b" to the arms 14' and 14" of the connecting members.

Beneath the rails 2 and 2", the roller pairs 6 are disposed and, as can be seen from FIG. 4, the roller pairs can include rubber-tired rollers 6', 6" which are journaled in bearings 6a, 6a" aflixed to a proximal connecting member 14, at least one or both of which are driven by a motor 612 via a chain 60 passing around a drive sprocket 6d of the motor and the sprocket wheel 6e of roller 6' and tangentially to the sprocket 6 of roller 6". Thus, the wheels 6 and 6" are rotated in opposite senses and, because of the resilient compressibility of their pneumatic tires, bear against respective faces 10', 10" of a generally fiat plate 10 afiixed by brackets 10a at the underside of the chassis or frame 12 of the vehicle means 5.

The latter further includes wheel means rollingly supporting the vehicle means 5 upon the rails 2, 2". The wheel means can include a pair of plastic-tire wheels 8', 8 which are of cylindrical configuration and rest upon the rails from above. As can be seen from the right-hand wheel 8", the synthetic-resin tire 8a is carried between support disks 8b upon a hub mounted with bearings 8d upon the axle 8e. Thus, the wheels 8', 8" roll freely with respect to their axles which, in turn, are affixed to plates 12a of the chassis held in place by reinforcing ribs 12b. The wheel means are designed to embrace the respective rails to prevent the vehicles 5 from being flung from the track and it has been found that this purpose is best achieved when the wheels 9 and 9" inwardly of the rails 2' and 2" are formed with concave peripheries 9g and 9g which extend over arcs of the lower inner quadrant of the respective rails 2', 2 and thus underlie these rails while the rollers 8' and 8" rest thereon. Dislocation of the vehicles is thus impossible. Each of the wheels 9' and 9", as is shown for the latter, comprises a synthetic-resin tire portion 9a between disks 9/) and 9b" and mounted upon a hub which is journaled via bearings 9d upon the axle 9e. A lifting of the vehicle from the rails is thus impossible. The track can, of course, be prefabricated in sections, each with the respective transverse connecting member 14, and can be joined together in contiguous relationship by juxtaposing the respective connecting members 14 and attaching them by tie rods or bolts passed through the apertures 15. In this case, the connecting members 14 will also constitute connecting flanges.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the vehicle means 5 generally constitutes a plurality of cars 5a, 5b, 5c, usually at least three, which are joined together with a swivel connection to permit relative movement between the cars with at least two degrees of freedom. For this purpose, universal joints of the so-called ball-points or Kardantype are provided at 11. It will be understood that such joints permit pivoting movement between the adjoining cars about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cars but parallel to the plane of the tracks when sharp rises or falls of the track are traversed by the car. Swivelling movement is also permitted about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle and to the plane of the track when the vehicle enters or leaves sharp curves or actuate sections of the track. It is thus possible to drive the vehicle via the roller pairs 6 in spite of the facts that the cars are not always aligned and permit the cars to move at high speeds without strain at their junction. FIG. 3 also shows that the flat drive member 10, depending from the chassis 12 between the rollers of the pairs 6, is composed of a plurality of flat boards 10a, 10b and 100 upon the respective cars 5a, 5b and 5c and aligned to form a single drive member for the vehicle means albeit in discrete sections. The elements a, 10b, 10c are curved to conform to the radius of curvature of the track and are aligned substantially contiguously to ensure that the elements will be successively engaged by the roller pairs 6.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, track means 2 is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane at the high-speed portions of the track in order to permit the vehicle 5 to achieve the elevated speed desired. As in a bobsled run, however, the vehicle portion traversing such sections of the track are likewise canted and, if it is desired to enter or leave the vehicle, difiiculties are encountered because of its inclination. These disadvantages can be obviated, in accordance with a further feature of this invention when, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the body 18 of the vehicle, which constitutes the seat portion, is swingably mounted upon the support frame of chassis 12 via a pivot 26 extending generally tangentially to the closed track and parallel to the rails 2. Thus, as particularly shown in FIG. 5, the seat portion 18 can be swung upwardly into a horizontal position even at an incline portion of the track to permit the rider to enter and leave with ease from a platform adjoining the track, as diagrammatically represented at P, and via a step 18a of the seat portion.

In order to swing the seat portion 18 with respect to the chassis 12, there is provided a reverse-threaded spindie 21 whose oppositely threaded spindle portions entrain respective nuts 23 and 23" to which links 19' and 19" are pivoted at 25". The latter are swingably connected at 20, 20" with the vehicle body. The spindle 21 is mounted in bearings 22 and is provided with an electromotor 24 adapted to drive the spindle via a speedreducing transmission 24a and an overriding clutch 24b. The motor 24 can be connected in an electrical circuit when the vehicle approaches the entry and exit stations and can be automatically reversible for energization upon leaving such station to restore the desirable riding position of the seat portion 18. Furthermore, to obtain various effects, the motor may be intermittently or continuously operated or may be operated in accordance with the particular section of the track traversed by the vehicle to swing the seat portion to a greater or lesser extent depending upon the speed of the vehicle and its inclination. For this purpose, third-rail-type electrical connections can be made with the motor and, as these connections are well-known per se, they need not be described here. It will be understood, however, that rotation of the spindle 21 in one sense will draw the nuts 23' and 23" toward one another and thus lower the seat portion 18 but, upon rotation in the opposite sense, will swing the seat portion 18 upwardly into its position shown in FIG. 5. In this manner, the distance between the seat portion of body 18 and the chassis or frame 12 is automatically increased or reduced. It will be understood, moreover, that the spindle 21 and the electromotor 24 can be replaced by fluid-responsive means such as a hydraulic or pneumatic piston-and-cylinder arrangement for displacement of the links 19', 19 to raise and lower the vehicle 18. Another type of fluid-responsive systems is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein a pneumatic or hydraulic motor 24' drives a worm-type reducing gear 27 whose eccentric 28 is constituted as a bellcrank lever articulated to the links 29 which, in turn, are pivoted at 20a to the vehicle body 18a which is swingably connected at 26a to the chassis Thus, FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative arrangement for swinging the seat portion 18a into a horizontal position (solid lines in FIG. 8). This extended position can be adjusted by variation of the length of the crank arms 28.

The invention as described and illustrated is believed to admit of many modifications within the ability of persons skilled in the art, all such modifications being considered within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An amusement ride of the roundabout or scenicrailway type, comprising track means forming a closed path; elongated vehicle means displaceable along said track means and including an elongated chassis, and a longitudinally extending generally flat member depending from said chassis; and drive means for said vehicle means including a plurality of pairs of drive rollers spaced along said path for successive engagement 'with said member 'for driving said vehicle means along said path, the rollers of each pair bearing on opposite faces of said member and entraining said member between them, at least some of said pairs of rollers being spaced apart along said path by distances at least equal to the length of said member whereby said member is always entrained by a pair of said rollers while in movement along said path past said some of said pairs, said vehicle means including a plurality of cars spaced along said path, and universal-joint means respectively connecting adjacent cars together, said cars having respective generally flat elements aligned in longitudinal direction and forming said flat member, each of said cars being provided With a seat portion, a support frame provided with said element, and pivot means swingably connecting said seat portion to said support frame, and actuating means for pivoting said seat portion with respect to said support frame.

2. A ride as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a threaded spindle rotatable on said frame, a nut shiftable along said spindle upon rotation thereof, l nk means pivotally secured to said nut and said seat portion for displacing said seat portion upon movement of said nut along said spindle.

3. A ride as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes an eccentric connected to said seat portion and fluid-responsive means for operating said eccen- 4. A ride as defined in claim 1 wherein the rollers of each of said pairs includes respective pneumatic tires bearing upon the respective faces of said member.

5. A ride as defined in claim 1 wherein said member is an arcuate elongated plate having a radius of curvature approximately identical with that of at least a substantial portion of said path.

6. A ride as defined in claim 1 wherein said track means includes a pair of mutually parallel, transversely spaced tubular metal rails adapted to support said vehicle means with said member extending between said rails, and support means including a multiplicity of connecting members spaced along said path and afiixed to said rails for maintaining a predetermined distance between them while supporting said rails, each of said connecting members being of upwardly open, generally U-shaped configuration to clear said generally flat member of said vehicle means upon movement thereof along said path past said connecting members.

7. A ride as defined in claim -6 wherein said connecting members and said rails are steel and are welded together, said support means further comprising at least one reinforcing strip of steel extending along each of said rails and welded to said connecting members.

8. A ride as defined in claim 6 wherein said chassis is provided with a plurality of wheel means rollingly engageable with said rails, said wheel means each including at least one wheel resting upon the respective rail from above and at least one other Wheel bearing upon the respective rail proximal to the first-mentioned wheel and having a concave periphery conforming substantially to that of the rail for embracing an arc of the rail in a plane perpendicular thereto.

9. An amusement ride of the roundabout or scenicrailway type, comprising track means forming a closed path with at least one steeply inclined banked curved portion; elongated vehicle means displaceable along said track means and of a length less than that of said path, said vehicle means being provided With a longitudinally extending member depending from said vehicle means, said vehicle means comprising at least one car having a support portion guided on said track means, a seat portion pivotally connected to said support portion for tilting movement relatively thereto about an axis extending generally in the direction of movement of said vehicle means along said track means, and means for swinging said seat portion of said car about said axis as said vehicle means traverses said path; and drive means for said vehicle means including a plurality of pairs of drive rollers spaced along said path for successive engagement with said member for driving said vehicle means along said path, the rollers of each pair bearing on opposite faces of said member and entraining said member between them, at least some of said pairs of rollers being spaced apart along said path by distances at least equal to the length of said member whereby said member is always entrained by a pair of said rollers while in movement along said path past said some of said pairs.

10. A ride as defined in claim 9 wherein the rollers include respective pneumatic tires bearing upon the respective faces of said member, said member being formed as an arcuate elongated plate having a radius of curvature approximately identical with that of at least a substantial portion of said path, said track means including a pair of mutually parallel, transversely spaced tubular metal rails on opposite sides of said member, said vehicle means including a plurality of cars spaced along said path and universal-joint means respectively connecting adjacent cars together, said cars having respective generally flat elements aligned in longitudinal direction and together forming said member, said axis being located at a side of said support portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 922,184 5/1909 Peck 104246 X 1,182,682 5/1916 Hess 10475 2,059,693 11/1936 Hamilton 104123 2,575,914 11/1951 Griffin l04--168 2,800,861 7/1957 Michalski 104246 3,006,286 -10/1961 Bacon 104246 X 3,111,910 11/1963 Pao 104--148 X 3,114,332 12/1963 Bacon 104246X 3,249,065 5/1966 Adams 104-149 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

D. F. WORTH, Assistant Examiner. 

